This Uber-Like Service for Diapers Started as a Joke but Will Soon Be a Reality

Some days, dealing with your baby’s dirty diaper can be a completely routine non-event. Others, you’re dealing with a full on blow-out and wish you could just get a hand — perhaps even literally! When U.K.-based site Childcare.co.uk. originally posted an announcement about the “launch” of ”the world’s first on-demand Uber-style” diaper-changing service called Nappy999, it was nothing more than an April Fool’s Day gag.

Today we are launching the world's first on-demand Uber-style nappy changing service.

Of course the posts prompted various critical and humorous remarks. “Does the charge depend on the severity and colour of the poo? Is there a surcharge if it comes out the arms? What if the baby is a wriggler?” one commenter wrote. Another said, “This can't be real?! Who can't bring themselves to change a nappy (pad) to get a total stranger change your own child?!”

But overall, the response was so overwhelmingly positive. One commenter said, "If only this was real. My little one is currently like changing an octopus he wriggled around so much. I’d happily pay £5!!!" And seeing so many parents stating that they would definitely use a service like this, Childcare.co.uk is actually going to offer the service.

According to a follow-up post on their site, "We originally came up with the idea as an April Fool in 2018 but after receiving over 400,000 views on social media and being inundated with comments from people who thought it was genuinely a great idea, we've decided to launch the service for real!"

Yep, parents across the pond will be able to order up a professional diaper-changer, who will reportedly show up at their doorstep within just 10 minutes, and for $7 per diaper, you’ll be able to consider your kiddo’s situation handled. The site explained the $7 fee also includes "the cost of a fresh nappy and the disposal of the soiled nappy.” Nice!

Apparently, they’ve already received “hundreds of applications” from people who are eager to get onboard as pro, on-call diaper-changers. If this is 2018’s answer to Mary Poppins, seems like lots of parents will take it. And if all goes well, perhaps Nappy999 will one day make its way over here for American parents to benefit, too!

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Maressa Brown is an editor and writer with more than a decade of experience covering lifestyle, pop culture, and parenting. Her work has appeared in/on a variety of publications including Cosmopolitan.com, Parents.com, Romper, Redbookmag.com, ELLE.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, Bustle, Variety, Women's Health, and Better Homes & Gardens. She loves researching and covering women’s health, beauty/style, relationships, pop culture, and astrology. Follow her on Twitter @MaressaSylvie.